Tyson appeals for bone marrow donor

One of the former boxer's close friends is father to an eight-year-old boy with aplastic anaemia, a potentially-fatal condition in which bone marrow fails to properly replenish blood cells.

The youngster is in desperate need of a transplant and Tyson used an appearance on Larry King Live on Thursday (02Dec10) to urge potential donors to come forward.

He says, "He's like my nephew in a way. You know, me and his father, me and his uncle are very tight... They live in Jersey City... I knew his parents before he was born, and we flew pigeons ever since we were all little...

"What he needs is a bone marrow transplant. Yes, he needs that because he has these horrific fevers that go over 105 every day. And there's no way he could stay home - (he has) to stay in the hospital. He's an awesome little kid...

"I believe a month ago we had a rally, and we had like 600 people came out, because it's very rare in the African-American and Spanish community that we get any donors... He's a Puerto Rican child... We just hope that somebody's a match."